Chapter 330
Athena
The hospital waiting room smelled like antiseptic and bad coffee.
I hated it. Hated the fluorescent lights that made everyone look half–dead.
Hated the uncomfortable plastic chairs that squeaked every time someone shifted.
Hated the clock on the wall that ticked too loud, each second feeling like an eternity.
But mostly, I hated that Tristan was in there somewhere, broken and bleeding, and I couldn’t do anything about it.
Sarah sat beside me, her hand warm in mine. She hadn’t let go since we got here, hadn’t said much either, just stayed close.
That’s what I loved about her, she knew when words didn’t help, when presence was enough.
Derek paced near the window, his phone pressed to his ear as he made yet another call.
I’d lost count of how many people he’d contacted in the last hour. He was trying to help, trying to fix this, but some things couldn’t be fixed with phone
calls and connections.
And Orion…
face.
Orion stood by the door, arms crossed, watching me like he knew exactly what I was thinking. Like he could read the desperation written all over my
Because he could.
He was my brother. We’d shared a womb, shared every moment of our lives growing up.
Five years wasn’t enough to stop knowing.
2
He knew me better than anyone, which meant he knew what I was about to suggest before I even opened my mouth.
The doctor had come out twenty minutes ago with an update that wasn’t really an update at all.
Tristan was stable but critical. Multiple fractures. Severe head trauma. Internal bleeding that they were trying to control.
They were doing everything they could, the doctor had said, but the next few hours were crucial.
Crucial.
What a bullshit word. Crucial meant they didn’t know if he’d make it. Crucial meant we should prepare ourselves for the worst.
I wasn’t preparing for anything except saving him.
My hand drifted to my stomach again, that protective gesture I couldn’t seem to stop.
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1:25 pm P
Chapter 330
The babies were so small right now, probably no bigger than blueberries, but I could feel them. Not physically, it was too early for that, but I knew they were there. Knew they were growing. Knew they needed their father.
“Athena,” Orion’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” I asked, even though we both knew.
‘Don’t even think about it.”
Sarah’s hand tightened on mine and I realized she’d figured it out too. Of course she had. She was married to Orion, had learned to read our language,
the silent communication that passed between us.
“I need to talk to you,‘ I said, pulling my hand free from Sarah’s. “Alone.“”
Orion’s jaw tightened but he nodded. We walked down the hallway, away from the waiting room, away from Derek’s phone calls and Sarah’s worried eyes. Found an empty consultation room and I closed the door behind us.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. Just stood there in this sterile little room with its generic landscape painting and box of tissues on the desk. A room designed for bad news, for difficult conversations.
Well, this was going to be difficult.
“I want to use my powers,” I said finally. No point dancing around it.
“No.” His answer was immediate, absolute.
“You didn’t even let me finish…”
‘I don’t need to. The answer is no, Athena. Absolutely not.”
Anger flared in my chest, hot and sharp. “He’s dying, Orion. Did you not hear the doctor? Internal bleeding, head trauma…”
‘I heard him. I also heard him say Tristan is stable and they’re doing everything they can.”
“Everything they can might not be enough!” My voice rose and I forced myself to take a breath, to lower it. The last thing we needed was hospital staff overhearing this conversation. ‘I can save him. You know I can.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
